Flower Power

First bloom of the season -

Late but worth waiting for.

A gentle reminder of a special brother

Who took the time to root clippings for us.

He's been gone from us six years now,

But today he seems near.

A lone beautiful flower facing my window

Can say so much.

All lined up -

arranged by size -

in a neat, predictable row.

Life is not like that.

Our days that we so carefully plan

are rearranged in the blink of an eye.

Knowing that, it pays to be flexible.
And it pays to remember that in life there is a constant:
Our Heavenly Father is in control and He is not affected by change.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not; Thy compassions they fail not.
As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness;
Great is Thy faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
~ lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm~

Secret Place

There is a secret place

where I'm overtaken by grace . . .

I heard these words for the first time this week as I listened to XM Enlighten radio.  Then I was so blessed as I watched this video by the Browders:

http://youtu.be/zWKEpHgJCXk

Hope it touches you, too!

Overtaken by grace . . . love those words!

Late Bloomer

Late bloomer -

no less beautiful

no less admired

  no less a rose.

The sun was sinking low in the west

as I walked the trail near the house.

Bursting through the thick growth of trees,

its rays painted their golden hues across my path.

Light transformed the ordinary 4-wheeler trail -

with its dead limbs and leaves amidst the greenery -

into a place of shining beauty.

I'm thinking a greater Light - 

The Light of the World -

whose golden rays of love

burst through the darkness and the deadness

and the ordinary-ness of our lives,

bringing beauty

and lighting our paths.

The Creator of Light Himself

bringing light into my life!

It's an incredible gift!

It's a life-giving gift

that just keeps 

giving

and 

giving.

Lord, help me never take your light for granted.

Help me to walk in it and live in it. I realize it's my choice.

I can't think of a better place to be -

close to You,

basking in the warmth of your love.

 But your light is not to be kept to myself,
  so help me to share it in our world 
that seems to be growing darker and darker.

Amen.

Focus

Perspective makes all the difference . . . 

and often needs a reality check.

~~~~~~~~~~~

With eternity's values in view, Lord;

With eternity's values in view -

May I do each day's work for Jesus

With eternity's values in view.

~Lyrics by Al Smith~



(Click on pic to enlarge.)

Just a drop . . .

Just a drop  . . . 

brings beauty

refreshes

reflects the sun's light.

Just a drop of love and kindness . . .

brings sunshine

encouragement

reflects the Son's light.

Just a drop . . . 

a smile

a pat on the back

"Can I help you?"

a note

a call

a prayer

a hand to hold

a shoulder to lean on -

just little things

that mean so much.

Maybe a drop or two

of His blood would have been enough.

But He gave all.

He gave every drop

 for me

for you.

Show me, Lord, where I need to sprinkle your love.  

Open my eyes to the opportunities and needs around me.

Help me to "drip Jesus."

Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note:  One pastor I know, Pastor M. Perkins, closes his written messages with those words:  Drip Jesus - thus the quotation marks.

Always faithful . . .

(click on pic to enlarge)

Though the lake level is extremely low,

and the heat and drought have broken records day after day,

the sun in all its glory rises and sets

day in and day out.

Always faithful, it never fails.

Above the slowly receding lake,

the sun in all its splendor shines,

adding breath-taking beauty to an otherwise depressing sight.

I can focus on the dead trees rising out of the lake,

or I can enjoy the majesty of the sunset.

No matter how low we may feel

or how scorching the situations that threaten to shrivel our souls,

the Son shines

in all His glory

day in and day out.

Always faithful, He never fails.

~~~~~~~~~

Turn your eyes upon Jesus;

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

~Lyrics by Helen Lemmel and Ken Bible~

Inside Job

I thought it was dead.  

Completely destroyed by the record-breaking heat and drought.

That's what I thought.

That's the way it looked.

But who am I to judge any of God's creations -

   a bush . . . circumstances . . . a person?

He is the master of "inside jobs" -

creating hope and newness,

giving life,

even when we can't see it.

Even when we've given up.

He is not willing that any perish.

That's what I think.

That's what I know.

~~~~~~~

 

In His time, in His time;

He makes all things beautiful 

In His time.

~Lyrics by Diane Ball~

Share the Trail

(Click on pic to enlarge.)

Share the trail.

Walk slowly.

Stop along the way.

Enjoy the scenery.

Learn from each other.

Savor the moments.

Trails diverge.

Time moves on.

 Memories last a lifetime.

(Pic - John David and grandson Aiden 9-10-11)

God bless America,

Land that I love.

Stand beside her 

And guide her

Through the night

With the light

From above.

God's words to Moses in Exodus 3:7-8: 

I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt.  I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.  So I have come down to rescue them . . .

He still sees 
and hears 
and is concerned
about His people
today.

He still comes down to rescue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1714, Isaac Watts penned these timeless words:
O, God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home. 

Blessed Assurance

Unlike the dandelion, which is at the mercy of the wind, the committed Christian finds purpose and stability and security in God's unique plan for his/her life.  God is in the details, and His all-seeing eyes and His infinite wisdom leave nothing to chance.  Winds, both the cooling breezes and the stormy gales are part of life, but even they obey His voice.  He rules the universe, but He's also concerned about the "little" things in my life!  That's blessed assurance!

The following prayer/praise written by Ruth Meyers in her book 31 Days of Praise is one that I return to again and again:

I praise You for Your sovereignty over the details.  With You, nothing is accidental, nothing is incidental, and no experience is wasted.  You hold in Your power my breath of life and all my destiny.  And every trial that You allow to happen is a platform on which You reveal Yourself, showing Your love and power, both to me and to others looking on.  Thank you that I can move into the future nondefensively, with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead, for You hold the future and You will always be with me, even to my old age . . . and through all eternity.

Rest . . .

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

(Mt. 11:28 KJV)

Can't Touch This!

Time can tarnish
chip away
erode
rust
decay
weaken
wrinkle
destroy.

But Time cannot
touch
The Truth.

The truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise ye the the Lord.
Psalm 117:2

"His truth is marching on . . . "

There Is a Fountain

Remember the old hymn "There Is a Fountain"? It was written in the 1700's by William Cowper, who suffered from deep depression and was institutionalized in an asylum. There he found Christ while reading his Bible, and in spite of his emotional and mental turmoil - and maybe because of it - he wrote literature with amazing insight. He is still known as one of England's greatest poets. "There Is a Fountain" is based on Zechariah 13:1: On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David . . . to cleanse them from sin and impurity. (NIV)

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel's veins.
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stain.

These words written so many years ago are still true . . . for the fountain never runs dry! And that's amazing good news!


(Info on William Cowper is from the book The Complete Book of Hymns by William J. and Ardythe Peterson, and I snapped the photo of the unique fountain in Basin Park, Eureka Springs, AR.)

Room Available

Plenty of room in the family . . .

Room for the young and the old . . .

Plenty of happiness . . .

Plenty of love . . .

Plenty of room in the fold.

There's room at the cross for you;
There's room at the cross for you.
Though millions have come,
There's still room for one.
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.
~Ira Stanphill - Room at the Cross lyrics~
~Gaither - Plenty of Room lyrics~

For whosoever shall do the will of God,
the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Mark 3:35

Go to the Rock

I go to the rock of my salvation;

I go to the stone that the builders rejected.
I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me.
When the earth all around me is sinking sand,
On Christ the solid rock I stand.
When I need a shelter -

When I need a friend, I go to the rock.

~Lyrics - I Go to the Rock - Dottie Rambo~

Support System

Family and friends
Providing support and love
Keep us standing tall.

Always holding us
His unseen arms provide strength
And cause us to stand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"He holdeth me up
And I shall not be moved.
He giveth me strength as my day."
~Fanny Crosby - Lyrics from He Hideth My Soul~

Buoyancy

Waves crash.
Thunder deafens.

I am no match for the fury.

But in the midst of the tumult,
I hear a Voice -
A Voice mightier than the sound of many waters.

But now this is what the Lord says -
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you my name.
You are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you.
When you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you."

And when the Master of the winds and waves speaks,
I can trust Him.
Always.

(Bold print from Isaiah 43:1-2)

No pool . . . no problem!

When you run out of fantastic . . . persevere!
~Reuben Welch~

Life Lessons 101

Click on pic to enlarge.

Never Too Old . . .

I'll never outgrow Vacation Bible School!!

This week the boys and girls of our church/community are visiting Nazareth where Jesus grew up. And it has been so much fun! Along with the fun and because of the fun, God's Word has come alive - through the songs, which you see on the screen above; through drama, games and crafts; through amazing decorations and props. His Word has been the focus of it all . . . simple yet profound words . . . timeless truths that children of all ages can grasp and hide away in their hearts . . . words to live by.

My heart has been touched and encouraged each night as these key verses have been highlighted:

For nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)
I have called you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1)
There is more than enough room in my Father's house. (John 14:2)

I sometimes wonder why we big kids make living for Jesus so complicated. I think that's one reason I love VBS so much! For a few hours each night I see firsthand simple, child-like faith . . . eyes filled with wonder . . . ears open to hear more . . . expectant excitement. I don't want to ever get too old for that kind of experience and lifestyle!

VBS . . . a Very Bright Spot in my summer - one that I don't plan to outgrow!!

In spite of the storms . . .
In spite of the extreme heat . . .

It blooms . . . beautifully!

The Other Side

I opened my Bible this morning and turned to the passage for today's devotional, but instead my eyes fell on these verses . . . and not "by accident," I'm sure!

²³And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

²⁴And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

²⁵And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

²⁶And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

²⁷But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

²⁸And when he was come to the other side. . .

Matthew 8:23-28b (KJV)

We can be sure we'll get to the "other side" if Jesus is in the boat with us. No matter how violent the storm. No matter how terrified we may be . . . and even when it seems that He's asleep or unconcerned. Sometimes we have no idea where the other side is. But if He says, "Let's go to the other side," as is recorded in Luke 8:22, in His time we'll step out of the boat and onto the shore. Not just sometimes . . . but every time.

And one day, after we've safely crossed our last storm-tossed lake, we'll be Home - on the other side!!

This old song that we sang in years past comes to my mind:

Master, the tempest is raging; the billows are tossing high.
The sky is o'er shadowed with blackness; no shelter or help is nigh.
Carest Thou not that we perish?
How canst Thou lie asleep, when each moment so madly is threatening
a grave in the angry deep?

Chorus:
The winds and the waves shall obey my will.
Peace be still; peace be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
or demons, or men, or whatever it be.
No water can swallow the ship where lies
the Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They shall sweetly obey my will.
Peace be still, peace be still.
They all shall sweetly obey my will.
Peace, peace be still.

Master, the terror is over, the elements sweetly rest.
Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored, and heaven's within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer; leave me alone no more.
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
and rest on the blissful shore.
~Mary Baker~

Sing Along . . .

Today John David hung this reminder over the door of the new portable building . . . the one that replaces the one the storm demolished. It was His amazing grace that protected our house - and us - as the tornado raged around us a few months ago. And that's just one of countless times His grace has protected and kept and guided. Even in the bad times . . . when our lives seem to be turned upside down, His grace has been sufficient. He said it would be. It is. Not that we've deserved it or earned it or been "good" enough. He's poured His grace on us - and you - because He loves us . . . unconditionally. I can't wrap my mind around that kind of love, but I'm so glad He wraps His everlasting arms around me! That's what makes it so amazing! Add to that the fact that His supply of grace never runs out; it's always enough! Well . . . the old hymn says it best! Sing along!

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come.
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

~John Newton~

Grace, grace, God's grace -
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe . . .
~Julia M. Johnston~

Hang On!

Sometimes life gets a little complicated - or a lot complicated . . .
and requires us to sacrifice ease and comfort.
Some solutions demand that we think outside the box . . .
and forget how everybody else is doing it.
But if we keep our eyes on The Prize . . .
no matter how far we must strain our necks -
we'll be rewarded.


Persevere . . . hang on!

(I took this pic of the beautiful red-headed woodpecker through my window looking at the feeder that hangs a few feet away on the front porch.)

Tangles

Ever watched a child try to get a knot untangled in his or her shoelaces . . . and give up? Then without a second thought, pull the tied shoe on and run off to play until Mama or Daddy - or someone who can - gets the shoelace untangled.

I thought of that this morning as I read these words in Streams in the Desert: Much of the life of faith consists of letting things alone. . . . It is such a comfort to drop the tangles of life into God's hands and leave them there.

Why would I want to resist that comfort?

I hear the answer and I don't like it.

Lord, help my unbelief.

God will make a way
where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see;
He will make a way for me.
~Lyrics by Don Moen~

Lead Me, Lord . . .

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost~


Your plans for me are perfect;
I never need to fear,
For though at times I feel alone
I know that you are near.
My heart just longs to follow;
I'm willing to obey.
Take my hand and lead me;
I will follow all the way.
~Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir~